A few of us reviewers and some friends visited the Port City Brewing Company’s facilities in Alexandria the weekend before last. It was a brief tour and we were provided with five five oz. samples for five dollars. The brewery has their tasting and tour schedules available on their website. You can take a virtual tour here: http://www.portcitybrewing.com/about/brewery-tour (if you’re afraid of leaving your home). However, with the in-person tour you get to taste the IPA before it fully matures, and you can ask the tour guide some in-depth questions about their brewing process and future plans. The pineapple that sits atop their entrance sign is a symbol of welcoming that mariners used to indicate they were receiving visitors. I was the designated driver, so I didn’t partake too much in the sampling. I liked the Monumental IPA the best. Freshness of the beer aside, the Essential Pale ale and wit were good, but not exceptional. A good way to kill a few hours on a Saturday before your evening revelry. Pick up a reasonably priced growler of brew and some Port City swag while your there.

Pours a cloudy golden orange. Little head and good lacing. Good hoppy citrus smell. Fruit flavors of grapefruit (Cascade hops) and tangerines hit first when tasting, but are balanced out by a solid biscuit/cracker malt backing. Some pine hop flavor. Nice mouthfeel for an APA. Very drinkable.

This is another historical recreation brew from Yards. This spruce ale is based on one of Ben Franklin’s recipes. It pours a deep amber. Quite frothy and creamy head. Thin mouthfeel. The nose smells like cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla and spruce. So, holiday spices basically. Fruit flavors hit the pallet first and the herbal earthiness is balanced out by a molasses backing. The finish reminded me of an herbal cough drop’s medicinal flavor. A good beer for cold weather. I could not see drinking more than two in one sitting. I doubt Ben Franklin did either. He probably had a draft or two. Then old Ben went off inventing stuff and entertaining ladies of a liberated disposition. Let freedom ring!

This amber ale is made in Denver, Colorado. Starting the brewery, Richard Squire became well known for his oatmeal stout he brewed for his friends. I plan to try that when I get chance. This beer was only slightly above average for a craft brew. If I had not gotten it for 3 bucks at a Flyer Saucer Pint Night, I might have been a little bitter. Not the good hoppy bitter, the bad Manning Face bitter. The beer has a blend of pale and caramel malts for sweet and hoppy taste. Basically a blend of an English Pale ale and an American amber ale. The fruity hops are rather subtle as the sweet maltiness is the essence of this beer. Also, the yeast character of this beer is really noticeable.

Yard’s Philadelphia Pale is described as a non-traditional pale ale because it features some unique aspects. It is a crisp and hoppy ale with a strong citrus nose and taste. The pour leaves a hazy golden brew with decent lacing. The malt base of light crystal or carapils malts balance out the strong lemon and apricot citrus flavors. Despite its description, I didn’t find it all that hoppy. However, I still enjoyed drinking it. It’d make a great summer beer and is very sessionable for other occasions. For someone trying to break into craft brews and pale ales, this would be a good place to start.